West Georgia Woman Magazine May 2020

Woman

Complimentary

May 2020

West Georgia

TM

Monica Ellis A Warrior For Lupus Awareness

Go For It! Learn How to Kick Your

Comfort Zone to the Curb

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness Carrollton's Pregnancy Resource Center Celebrates 34 Years of Helping New Mothers

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Photo by Zachary Dailey

Lupus Warrior Monica Ellis shares her incredible journey.

Page 10.

What’s inside...

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Living with Lupus

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Pregnancy Resource Center Helps Women in Need

20

The Road Less Traveled

42

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness

33

Fuss-free Healthy Eating

In Every Issue:

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Daily Fare

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Local Happenings

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Womentality

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“

The comeback is always STRONGER than the setback.

Stay Safe

Wash your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if you’re feeling ill.

Stay Aware

Reputable sources include Governor Kemp, Georgia state agencies, and the CDC.

“

Stay Home

Even if you’re feeling healthy, social distancing will help us stop the spread of COVID-19.

Stay Calm

No need to panic, hoard, or listen to rumors. We will get through this together.

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A New Normal We are all experiencing a new normal right now as many businesses continue to be shut down and many people are still choosing to shelter in place. I have been lucky to have my daughter, Sydney, with me. She's been home from college for several weeks now, and it has been nice to be able to cook dinner together, to go for a walk or a drive or just stay up late talking. I will treasure these moments with her for the rest of my life.

I really miss my son, Zachary. He works for me full-time, and I'm used to seeing him and hugging him Monday through Friday. He's been working remotely from his home and I haven't hugged him in weeks. I'm looking forward to the day when we can all be together again as a family.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all of the people who are on the front lines, and to those of you who have lost loved ones. You are in our thoughts, and we will continue to pray for all who have been affected by this terrible disease.

In This Issue Diagnosed in 2001 with the most common type of lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Monica Ellis' own immune system has been attacking various tissues in her body for the last 19 years, resulting in damage to her Photo by Zachary Dailey heart, bones and kidneys.

SLE is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In spite of several bouts of pneumonia, being diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2017 and enduring more pain than most people could ever imagine, Monica has been a positive influence for those who suffer from lupus. Learn more about this inspirational warrior on page 10.

Do you ever think about doing something amazing but are too scared to follow through? On page 20, Sandra Bolan shows us how to kick our comfort zone to the curb and start going after our dreams.

Do you ever wonder how people find the time to make healthy meals without spending hours in the kitchen? Check out page 33 for ideas on making healthy meals with little effort.

The Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) in Carrollton, Ga., got its start 34 years ago this month. An organization that began in the original founders' living room has helped more than 26,000 West Georgia women, men and families to date. Debbie Daniel received post-abortion recovery assistance through the PRC and now helps women in need by sharing her story of hope and healing through the PRC as its director of client services. Learn more about the PRC and their service to parents in Carroll, Haralson and Heard Counties on page 36.

Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine! Due to our recent shutdown, it is more important than ever to support our local businesses. Please support our advertising partners in this publication by giving them your business as much as you can. Without them, there would be no West Georgia Woman.

I hope you all have a wonderful and happy Mother's Day. See you next month!

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Publisher

Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of The views, opinions, positions or stratthis issue are copyright 2020. West Georgia egies expressed by the contributing Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our authors are theirs alone, and do not voice. Knowing our value. Making a differnecessarily reflect the views, opinions, ence.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. positions or strategies of Angel Media, All rights reserved. Reproduction without LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine permission is strictly prohibited.

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West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

Volume 5 • Issue 7 May 2020

Follow us! @WestGaWoman

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for cover Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Charlene Brooks, Jordan Coffman, Zachary Dailey and Rose Isaacs

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Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area.

She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey.

Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

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By Angela Dailey Photos by Zachary Dailey

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Living with Lupus Lupus Warrior Monica Ellis Shares Her Incredible 19-Year Journey

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A

t age 27, Monica Ellis was a dental assistant with a 5-year-old son at home. She was concerned when she began developing ringworm-like lesions on her scalp, chest and arms, had extreme fatigue and began experiencing severe joint pain that affected her work. "It was hard for me to pass the instruments to the dentist due to my wrist and hands being swollen," she explains. "I was in a tremendous amount of pain."

For months, she endured test after test as doctors searched for a diagnosis. In April 2001, she was told she had lichen planus, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects mucous membranes inside the mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic.

That same month, she was told that instead of lichen planus she had discoid lupus erythematosus, a chronic dermatological disease that can lead to scarring, hair loss and hyperpigmentation changes in skin if it is not treated early and promptly, according to The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

"I felt like they were doing a lot of testing," she relates. "It just drug on forever. I became very depressed."

Seven months later, Monica finally received a definitive diagnosis: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – the most common type of lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I had no clue what the heck lupus was," she says.

She learned very quickly that this incurable disease was a force to be reckoned with, and could be deadly. For 19 years, Monica's own immune system has been attacking various tissues in her body, resulting in damage to her heart, bones and kidneys.

Lupus Symptoms Because lupus may affect various parts of the body, it can cause many different symptoms, according to Lupus Foundation of America (LFA).

The most common lupus symptoms – which are the same for women and men – are: • • • • • • • •

Swelling or pain in the joints Extreme fatigue Low fevers Swelling around the eyes Swelling in the hands and feet Headaches Sensitivity to fluorescent light or sunlight Chest pain when breathing deeply

Many people with lupus also have issues that affect their hair and skin, such as: • Hair loss • A butterfly-shaped rash on the nose and cheeks • Sores in the nose or mouth

Who is at Risk?

At least 1.5 million people have lupus in the US, and approximately 16,000 new cases are reported every year. People of all genders, ages and racial or ethnic groups can develop lupus, says the LFA. There are people who are at higher risk than others, including:

Monica refuses to let lupus win. Photo: Facebook

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• Women ages 15 to 44 (In fact, 9 out of 10 people with lupus are women) • Certain racial or ethnic groups – including

people who are Hispanic or Latino, African American, Native American, Pacific Islander or Asian American.

• People who have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease

Early Life Monica was born in Detroit, Mich., the youngest and only girl. Her parents worked for General Motors, and she and her three older brothers experienced a normal upbringing.

When she was in sixth grade, the family moved to Miami, Fla. Her mom worked in an elementary school and her dad worked in a warehouse.

They remained in Miami until her senior year of high school, when they moved to Memphis, Tenn. "I attended Miami Central High School, then transferred to Westwood High School in Memphis," she says. "I had a love/hate relationship with school.

I was so glad when I graduated."

In 1999, Monica moved from Memphis to Cobb County and enrolled in Medix College's dental assistant program. She moved to Douglasville in 2001 and has lived there ever since.

Her dad is now retired and moved to Georgia

Left, Leonard Ellis, Monica's dad, visits her in the hospital.

Photo: Facebook

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last May. Her three brothers work in the medical, trucking and distribution fields. One of her brothers has lived with Monica for two years.

Sadly, her mom passed away from a heart attack in 2006. "My mother was a very important part of my journey when I was first diagnosed, until she passed away," Monica shares.

The 45-year-old divorcée is very proud of her only son, a 23-year-old U.S. Marine who currently lives overseas. Although she doesn't have any pets now, she loves dogs – when she was married she had Yorkies. She enjoys making wigs, sewing, making t-shirts, helping the homeless and giving back to her community. In her spare time she loves traveling and being near the ocean.

What Causes Lupus?

creep into my mind and it wasn't very pretty. As the saying goes 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

No one knows what causes lupus.

Lupus has affected me, but I continue to Lupus and other autoimmune diseases push through." do run in families. Experts also think

Her Support System

it may develop in response to certain hormones (including estrogen) or environmental triggers. An environmental trigger is something outside the body that can bring on symptoms of lupus — or make them worse.

Monica has a great group of family members and friends who offer continuous Some common triggers of lupus A Physical and Emotional Toll support. symptoms include: She also receives – Ultraviolet rays from the sun or Besides the butterfly rash and hair loss, lupus has encouragement from fluorescent lights caused significant damage to Monica's vital organs. others in the lupus She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in – Certain antibiotic drugs community as she 2017, and she has acute renal failure, which occurs ­– Having an infection shares her journey when the kidneys become unable to filter waste on a Facebook page – Exhaustion (feeling very tired) products from the blood.

– Stress to the body, such as getting she created through Her joints constantly ache – especially when it hurt or having surgery her nonprofit, Lupus rains. She has avascular necrosis of the hips, which is Matters, a 501(c)(3) – Emotional stress, such as being very death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. that she established in busy or having problems at home She also has pleurisy. Pleurisy causes sharp chest 2007. pain that worsens during breathing.

"During these 19 Lupus is not contagious; you cannot Although Monica has a positive, outgoing and plus years, I have had "catch" it or give it to another person. upbeat nature, 19 years of dealing with this disease an amazing amount of has taken a toll on her mind, body and spirit. support," she shares. Source: Lupus Foundation of America "Back in 2016 and 2017, I was so depressed that "My friends, family my childhood friend from Detroit came and moved and now my social media community has supported in with me because I wanted to take my own life," my journey as we inspire and encourage one she shares. "Depression is no joke! I am spiritual and another."

I love the Lord, but I have to admit I let the devil Ereka Phillips, one of Monica's best friends, says Monica is an extraordinary Ereka Phillips, right, is one of Monica's best friends. and courageous woman.

She says Monica, left, is an extraordinary and courageous woman.

“It’s a disease where people suffer in silence," says Ereka. "Monica is very friendly, very outgoing – she's a people person.

You would never know she had lupus unless she shared it with you. She has struggled so much with this disease. She’s lost all of her hair. She is just beautiful all the way through."

Edie at work in her courtroom.

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“

I wish peo ple knew that we are not the same person that we were before lupus.

We get tired faster, we cancel plans, we get depressed, and sometimes we are ashamed of the fact that our life has changed as we once knew it.

Not everyone has been as supportive as her friends and family.

Monica was married three years after being diagnosed with lupus. After 10 years of marriage, and while she was in the intensive care unit at the hospital during a lupus flare, her husband told her he wanted a divorce.

"He couldn't handle the lupus," she explains. "A lupus flare is basically the return of symptoms, like a fever, painful swollen joints, being extremely tired or perhaps a red rash. A mild flare can range from ulcers in the mouth to an ongoing fever, whereas a severe flare for me can cause pneumonia, swollen ligaments, headaches and vomiting."

They divorced in 2014.

The immune system is the part of the body that fights off germs, viruses and bacteria – foreign invaders, such as the flu. Our immune systems usually produce proteins called antibodies that stop these intruders from harming our bodies.

People with lupus have immune systems that

cannot tell the difference between the foreign invaders and their body’s healthy tissues.

Their immune systems then create autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue.

It takes an external trigger such as stress, viral illnesses or colds, infections, exhaustion, injuries or severe exposure to ultraviolet rays to cause a lupus flare, according to the LFA. "I stopped eating meat of any kind, no milk or dairy as well," Monica says. "Stress will cause a flare.

So, I had to eliminate any and all stress and worrying from my life."

“

Lupus Flares

Treatment Options Monica says that lupus can be extremely unpredictable. One minute, hour or day you feel fine, then, without warning you feel horrible.

"Sometimes you can feel it creeping up," she explains. "You learn your body and the lupus ... eventually! There is no cure for lupus, but with

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Monica is currently taking an oral chemotherapy medicine in hopes that it will make the lupus inactive in her body. "I have hope," she shares. "Some people have done well with a drug called Benlysta.

It's the first lupus drug in over 50 years."

Coronavirus and Lupus Patients There is currently some controversy over another approved treatment for lupus – the antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ or Plaquenil). Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in 1956, it has been suggested by some that this drug may be successful in treating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The increased demand for HCQ has created a nationwide shortage, leaving people with lupus and other autoimmune diseases struggling to

find treatments they need, according to the National Council on Aging. Monica is also taking HCQ as a treatment for her lupus symptoms.

"Many of my friends with lupus have stated that they were unable to receive their medications because supplies have run out causing fear and panic, leaving them afraid and cutting back on their doses," she explains. "The lupus community has voiced their concerns, and we look forward to knowing that we won't be left out of the equation."

Monica has been personally impacted by the coronavirus. Last month, she lost one of her best friends, Tricey Ushery – also a lupus patient – to the illness. Monica was only able to attend her funeral through Facebook.

A Dangerous Turn

Monica shares a photo of one of her best friends, Tricey Ushery. Tricey had lupus and passed away from the coronavirus in April.

Monica is no stranger to pneumonia, which also happens to be one of the very serious complications of the coronavirus. In 2019, she says she was getting pneumonia often due

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I can come off of dialysis," she says. "I'm looking forward to that day. I have faith and hope that things will get better."

Lupus Matters

Monica had to have a temporary catheter placed in her neck for dialysis while she was in the hospital. She still receives dialysis three days a week.

to her lupus. In Jan. 2020, she began to feel sick again.

"Pneumonia reared its ugly head," she says. "I could feel myself getting sick. I was in so much pain.

I couldn't breathe in, fever and vomiting, it hurt to move. I had to sleep sitting up. My chest was in excruciating pain. The pain was totally unbearable."

She went to the ER on Jan. 25. "They normally don't send me home, but this time they did with antibiotics for pneumonia," she relates. The antibiotics didn't work for her, so she went back to the ER a week later.

"While I was still diagnosed with pneumonia, they admitted me, and that's where it all went downhill," she says.

She spent a total of 20 days in the hospital from Feb. 1 to Feb. 21. Three days after being admitted, she went into renal failure and had to immediately go on dialysis. She received two blood transfusions, she stopped urinating for three days and the dialysis made her extremely ill with nausea and vomiting.

"It was truly a horrible experience," she recalls. "I went into the hospital with pneumonia and came out on dialysis."

Monica had to have a temporary catheter placed in her neck in the hospital. She still receives dialysis three days a week. "Now that I am a few months into it, I look back and think God has really brought me through," she shares.

Her doctor has told her that she will be on dialysis another month to see if the damage has been corrected. "Having acute kidney failure, there is a chance that my kidneys will correct themselves and

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With the Lupus Matters Corporation (LMC), Monica shares hope, encouragement and education about lupus with others who are suffering from the disease. She has an annual backpack giveaway for students, runs one of the concession stands for fundraising during the Atlanta Braves baseball season, feeds the homeless and holds an annual sunscreen symposium that is geared toward discoid lupus, a chronic disease that causes a severe rash that normally gets worse when exposed to sunlight.

"There was a great need to educate people about lupus in the community – a lot of people still had not even heard of lupus," she says. "We wanted to help lupus patients in immediate need, whether it was comforting them after being newly diagnosed or giving them information on upcoming educational symposiums. We look forward to implementing new programs as we grow."

LMC primarily focuses on nutrition, staying healthy and becoming stress-free. "Changing your lifestyle

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is a must," she explains. "You will have less flares and start to feel better overall. LMC wants the lupus community to be able to live life fully. I am very transparent about showing my day-to-day journey on all of my social media outlets. Family and friends of lupus patients need to know about the struggles of living with lupus. For them to see hands-on how unpredictable it is will maybe make them more compassionate about our symptoms."

LMC has also received proclamations designating lupus awareness month in Douglasville, Conyers, Cartersville and from Governors Nathan Deal and Brian Kemp, according to Monica.

You can help LMC by donating backpacks and school supplies for their annual backpack giveaway.

Monetary donations are needed to help with the start of the LMC care package initiative for lupus patients who are sick and shut-in.

They also need Monica's Bitmoji, Facebook volunteers to help run the

@DaileyLifePhotography

fundraising concession stand at the Atlanta Braves games. "With the help of the community, we can be a blessing to others," Monica says.

Hitting the Road Monica has bold plans to move out of her home and begin living in her van while still spreading lupus awareness. She also plans to write a book about her experience.

"I love giving back, but sometimes it is very hard to do with limited funds," she relates. So, I'm taking LMC on the road. Although my 'van life' has been delayed due to the world's pandemic, I am super excited! This will allow me to focus on Lupus Matters Corporation. This is a perfect time to build LMC into what the community needs." WGW

To learn more about Monical Ellis and Lupus Matters Corporation, call 404.997.0761 or email lupusmatters@gmail.com.

Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lupusmatters Listen to her lupus anthem song on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozgwWyojG7I If you or someone you know would like to share your lupus journey in the Lupus Matters Corporation Magazine, send an email with Share My Story as the subject to: Lmcmagsubmissions@gmail.com 19

The Road Less Traveled

Kicking your comfort zone to the curb

H

Learn sign language, how to play the piano or even how to fly a plane. Learn a new language then travel to a country where it is spoken.

“Encountering new people and cultures can be both intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding," according to Ashford University’s strategies and benefits of adult learning. "Exploring your world can open the door to new interests, passions, or hobbies, and then motivate you to learn new skills to support them. The person you strike up a conversation with at the train station could lead your life in an entirely new direction with a simple idea or piece of advice."

When it comes to work, no matter what industry you're in, it is changing at lighting speed, and you will most likely have to do some form of continuing education to keep up.

Perhaps you're feeling burned out in your current career, or feel you have reached a A West Georgia Technical College student and former pharmacy technology chair Michelle Hill work together in one of the WGTC plateau and you pharmacy technology program's newly renovated labs. won't be able to WGTC offers a hands-on learning environment with equipment that advance further in simulates the clinical pharmacy experience. Photo by Mark Steffey.

ow many times have you talked yourself out of doing something amazing by telling yourself, “I could never do that.” We often talk about traveling the globe, learning a new skill, climbing the corporate ladder or spending more time on a hobby. But that is typically where it ends – talking about it.

Why not stop talking and start doing? When you’re in the twilight of your life, do you want to be a shoulda, woulda, coulda person or do you want to regale people with your adventures, show off your crafting skills or wow an audience with your musical prowess? To accomplish any of those things, you’re going to have to move the line that divides comfort and discomfort.

Go Back to School On graduation day, you no doubt thought you’d never step foot back in the classroom. But why not take the leap and learn all the fun stuff you never had time for?

Take that cooking or carpentry class.

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the company. It could be time to branch out and explore new career opportunities that interest you.

Take Initiative If you’re looking to climb the corporate ladder, you won’t get there by sitting in your cubicle doing the same thing day in and day out. Don’t wait for the boss to assign you to a project. Ask to be on the team.

Be Alone or Be a Team Player If you’re someone who feels the need to always be around people and can’t imagine doing anything alone, try going to a movie by yourself or eating at your favorite restaurant solo. On the flipside, if you’re someone who loves her independence and does everything alone, ask a friend to dinner. The same bodes true for your work life. If you always work alone and don’t ask or take help that is offered to you, start saying "Yes." This signifies to your boss you know your limitations but are willing to learn and take the assistance to become better. It also shows you’re a team player.

Enlarge Your Social Circle You’re married with kids and still hang out with all your high school friends. It’s great to have such

More Ways to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 1. Start small.

2. If you like to read mysteries and psychological thrillers, join a book club that reads a variety of genres.

3. Try a new exercise routine.

4. Learn a new word every day and try to use it in conversation.

5. Embrace change.

6. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

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623 DIXIE STREET – CARROLLTON, GA strong bonds, but sometimes you need other people to help you do those things that scare the living daylights out of you. “Everyone thinks differently, and learning from new experiences can expand your own way of thinking. From religion to politics, life experiences to career changes, meeting new people can open your world to different opportunities,” according to ROVR, a social networking company.

Face Your Fears Does the thought of being up high, even on a sturdy ladder, give you the shakes? Do your palms start to sweat when you think about talking to a group of people? Don’t run away from those things, but go full steam ahead toward them. The more you just do it and face your fears, the easier it is to accomplish these things in the future.

It sounds cliché, but if you really want to step out of your comfort zone, you must create that bucket list or vision board – and put it where you can see it every day. Another option is to enlist the help of a family member or friend to hold you accountable for accomplishing your fearless goals. There is nothing like a daily reminder to help you do things that stretch your limits. WGW

23

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25

Daily Fare With

e s o R f e Ch Happy 1st Birthday Sebastian!

Photos by Zachary Dailey

26

Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian.

She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.

"

This cake recipe is in honor of my son’s 1st birthday on May 2.

I hope this cake provides happy and healthy memories for anyone who has a little one they hold dear.

"

Healthier Baby Smash Cake Ingredients

1 1/4 cup whole wheat or all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 very ripe banana 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup whole milk 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the frosting: 8-ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Butter and flour a 6-inch cake pan.

Place a round of parchment paper the size of the pan in the bottom of the pan.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a blender or food processor, purée banana, strawberries and applesauce on high until throughly blended and smooth.

In another small bowl, mix together 1 cup of the fruit purée, milk, egg and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Remove parchment paper.

Once cooked and cooled, use unflavored dental floss or a sharp serrated knife to separate cake into two layers.

Frosting preparation: With an electric or stand mixer, beat cream cheese on low for about one minute.

Add butter and increase speed to medium for 1 minute or until throughly combined.

Turn mixer to low and add powdered sugar, followed by vanilla extract.

Beat until frosting is smooth.

Spread frosting on one of the cake layers, top with second layer then spread frosting over tops and sides of cake.

Top with fresh strawberries, sprinkles or candles.

27

Chicken Enchilada and Black Bean Pizza

Ingredients 1 12-inch pizza crust (fresh, canned or precooked will all work) 1 cup enchilada sauce

1/2 cup cooked and shredded chicken 1 cup cooked or canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese 1 large avocado, diced 1/2 cup fresh cilantro

Preparation

"

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this fun twist on pizza. Bell peppers, pico de gallo or sour cream would all be great additions as well.

28

"

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

Place pizza crust on large baking sheet and spread enchilada sauce over crust.

Sprinkle chicken, beans and cheese over sauce.

Bake until the crust is brown around the edges and cheese is bubbling.

Remove pizza from the oven and top with avocado and cilantro.

Serves 6 to 8. WGW

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is.”

– Oprah Winfrey

“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.

A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”

– Sophia Loren

“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”

– Jill Churchill

“In the end, whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain — your life will never be the same.”

– Catherine Jones

“Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is … and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.”

– Donna Ball 29

Local Happenings

Due to our country's current health situation, please call or email the organizations included in our local events section to inquire about in-person meetings.

West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840.

Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.

30

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program

Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This program is open to all girls ages 7 to 17.

For more information, call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton.

These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free

weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.

Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic at 1758 Lee Rd. in Lithia Springs.

This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer.

Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.

Cancer Support Group at Tabernacle Baptist Church Has your life been impacted by cancer – whether your own or someone you know?

Tabernacle Baptist Church hosts a faith-based cancer support group providing spiritual and emotional support to those diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, those in remission and caregivers.

Meetings run from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Carrollton, Ga. For more information, call 770.832.7063 or visit the website at tabernacle.org.

Domestic Abuse Support Group There is Hope is a support group for women dealing with, or who have dealt with domestic abuse. Through There is Hope, women will come together and share their personal journey, while listening to others share theirs as well.

There will be guidance for help and resources available at each meeting. Meetings are free to attend. This group will meet the second Wednesday of every month. The meetings are free to the public.

Group meetings will be held at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton in classroom 4 from 5:30 to 6:30

p.m. The next meetings will be held on May 13.

Contact hopefulone807@gmail.com for more information.

Notice of Last Date to Claim Carroll Electric Membership Corporation Capital Credits Refunded in 2014 In compliance with O.C.G.A. § 44-12-236 of The Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, Carroll Electric Membership Corporation (“Carroll EMC”) is attempting to locate former members whose capital credit checks were issued in 2014, but which have been returned by the U. S. Post Office as “undeliverable” or have otherwise been unclaimed.

A current list of these members, and a list of their last known addresses and instructions for claiming these funds, is posted on Carroll EMC’s website at http://www.carrollemc.com.

The last possible date to claim these funds is Oct. 1, 2020. Funds that are not claimed by this date will be used for economic development, education or donated for charitable uses, as permitted by O.C.G.A. § 44-12-236.

To claim a refund or submit any questions about this notice or the list, please contact 770-832-3552.

Women of West Central Georgia Luncheon Resource Exchange Consulting Group is presenting this luncheon to honor West Central Georgia female business owners.

This event will be held on Thursday, May 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Del'avant Event Center, 141 Main St., LaGrange. The cost is $45 to attend.

Keynote speaker will be Corrine Hodges, CEO of the Association of Women's Business Centers in Washington, D.C. Educational resources will be provided for aspiring business owners with the support of LiftFund, USDA, SBA, SCORE and ACE. These organizations will provide information and meet with attendees on a one-on-one basis.

Follow Resource Exchange Consulting Group on Facebook for more information or call 706.573.6826.

Visit www.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.

31

Woman

Complimentary

May 2020

West Georgia

TM

Monica Ellis A Warrior For Lupus Awareness

Go For It! Learn How to Kick Your

Comfort Zone to the Curb

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness Carrollton's Pregnancy Resource Center Celebrates 34 Years of Helping New Mothers

1

Staying Home?

Subscribe to our free digital issue

and have it sent to your inbox each month.

32

www.westgeorgiawoman.com

Fuss-free Fussfree

By Sandra Bolan

S

croll through Instagram and you’ll likely find thousands of posts with perfectly prepared and portioned out healthy meals.

You’ll also see kids’ bento boxes with lots of chopped veggies and fruit, mixed nuts and things like avocado and sprout sandwiches.

Do people really love kale as much as they claim to? Will kids really eat a sandwich full of veggies, or would they prefer peanut butter and jelly?

Most important, where do people find the time to make healthy meals without spending hours in the kitchen?

Here are some ideas for making healthy meals with little effort.

• Meal Prep. If you’re so inclined to, jump on the meal prep bandwagon. Meal prepping is “a strategic cooking method that allows proper portion control over a set period of time," according to the meal prep service Prepared Nutrition. You use five to seven identical containers with equally portioned out meat, grains and veggies. Do not confuse meal prepping with re-purposing leftovers.

That is an Internet no-no.

• Batch cook. Make a large pot of whole grain rice, quinoa or pasta. Use this as a meal base

Healthy Eating •

•

•

•

throughout the week. All you need to do is add freshly cooked, or leftover meat and vegetables.

Cut fruit and veggies for the week. Once cut, store them in individual or snack-sized bags or containers, then grab and go as needed. You can also use your cut veggies with the rice you batch cooked to make a stir fry. When you’re doing your weekly shopping, make sure to grab one or two pre-made sauces to use for stir fries or quick pasta dinners. If you’re really pressed for time, buy pre-cut fruit and vegetables, but it will cost a bit more than doing it yourself.

Pre-made salads and dressing. For quick, easy lunches, buy bagged lettuce and bottled salad dressing. Add your protein of choice (meat, nuts or tofu) plus some raisins, chopped apple, mandarin orange or grapes and you have a satisfying lunch. It also costs a fraction of fast food salads.

Want meat in that meal? Buy a store-bought, cooked chicken, or two, early in the week, shred it and store in the fridge. Take out portions to add to stir fries, tacos or salads.

Make the slow- or multi-cooker your BFF. I call them dump dinners or one-pot-wonders.

33

Make the slow- or multi-cooker your BFF

Pour all your ingredients – meat, cut veggies, canned beans, liquid (broth, tomato sauce) into a multi- or slowcooker, turn it on and let the appliance do the work. Depending on the size of the family, this can also leave you with leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.

• Make your own snack packs. There are tons of pre-portioned, to-go snacks available from nuts to fruit, hummus and avocado spreads, as well as meat/cheese/fruit/cookie combos.

But if you want to save some money, make your own. For trail mix, buy your favorite nuts, raisins or cranberries, toasted oat cereal and chocolate coated candies and mix them together. Portion the batch into snack-sized bags so when you’re making lunches for the

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family or need a quick snack they’re ready to go. You can also do this with the Lunchabletype snacks or meals. Buy meat, which can also be used for sandwiches, hard cheese, crackers and whole fruit.

Portion them out in bento boxes.

These are also easy activities you can do with the kids.

• Never skip a meal, including breakfast.

Mornings never seem to go as smoothly as we hope, which sometimes leaves us skipping breakfast at home, swinging by a fast food restaurant between dropping the kids off at school and heading into the office. Make overnight oats the night before or have toast and peanut butter. No time to toast the bread? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich works too. Hard boil a bunch of eggs, then peel and store them in the fridge. Grab one or two as you head out the door. They can also be added to salads and bento boxed lunches.

• Meal kits. If you have absolutely no time to cook, hate grocery shopping and cooking, or don’t know how to cook and are willing to spend the money, meal kits may be worth a try. Homechef.com: Customized weekly kits start at $6.99/serving. Kits are available for families, couples and singles. The company offers weekly meal rotations. Prep times range from five to 30-plus minutes. BlueApron.com: Each box contains perfectly portioned meals with step-by-step preparation and cooking instructions. Meal kits start at $7.49/serving.

Blue Apron also has a monthly wine delivery service that pairs with its recipes. Freshly.com: Customers receive meals cooked by chefs that are ready to eat in three minutes. Each meal is sized for one person. Plans range from four to 12 meals per week with pricing from $7.99 to $11.50/meal. Shipping costs are added at checkout. All these services have apps with recipes and cooking techniques. Customers can also manage their accounts from the various apps. WGW

Primary Election Tuesday, June 9 The right The right

Experience.

choice.

Paid for by Friends of Erica Tisinger PO Box 2382 Carrollton, GA 30112

• Having served as a State Court Staff Attorney, Erica is the only candidate with experience of the inner workings of state court, both criminal and civil, from the perspective of the judge.

• She is the only candidate that has first-hand experience working in a DUI court (one of the first three in the State of Georgia).

• Erica has also served as an administrative law judge, and she is the only candidate with such experience.

Her experience is unmatched by any other candidate.

• Call Erica at 770.841.3406 • Email her at erica@ericatisinger.com • Visit her on Facebook at Erica Tisinger for State Court Judge.

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35

A Second Chance

By Sandra Bolan

Pregancy Resource Center's Director of Client Services Debbie Daniel Shares Her Story of Healing and Hope to Help Women in Need

36 by Zachary Dailey Photos

A

t 25, Debbie Daniel had an abortion.

For 13 years, she lived with that secret.

It was 1988 and Debbie was divorced, with a 2-year-old son at home. She sought out comfort and Congratulations Class of 2020! love from men. “I was basically looking for love in the wrong places, like people do,” she admits.

She met a man, the kind you don’t bring home to mother. When she discovered she was pregnant, Debbie told her mom, hoping to find solace.

Instead, her mother told her she couldn’t raise two babies on her own.

Debbie felt her only option was an abortion. “I made that choice, and I’ve regretted it ever since,” says the now 56-year-old. She felt alone, guilty and full of shame. It also strained Debbie’s relationship with her mother.

She kept the secret buried and got on with her life. The hairstylist would hear clients talk, occasionally the topic of abortion came up. Their comments about women who chose that option Photo credit: Todd Middlebrooks were less than glowing. "I would think to myself, #warriorfamily 'You’re talking about me and you don’t even know it.' It was hard," she relates.

222 Cross Plains Rd. Carrollton, GA 30116 Some people seek solace in alcohol, drugs and 770.834.6651 sex, or all three. For Debbie, it continued to be sex. www.oakmountain.us Six years after the abortion, Debbie met another, better man. She became pregnant again, and this A few years after she completed the program, time, she kept the baby. “I’m never doing that the center’s director at the time asked Debbie if she again,” she says of an abortion. The couple also would be interested in becoming a volunteer. She married, but the marriage lasted only seven years. was. “I knew then that God was going to use my “I’m obviously not choosing the right people,” she story to help other women,” she says. admits.

In 2010, Debbie became a volunteer at the center.

More than a decade after the abortion, healed Three years later, she was hired on as its director of physically but not emotionally, it was Debbie’s best client services – overseeing everything associated friend who told her about Carrollton’s Pregnancy with the clinic’s clients, programs and volunteers. If Resource Center and its post-abortion support you ever go to the PRC, you will meet Debbie. group.

For 11 weeks, Debbie and the group’s facilitator met to start her healing process. Part of that How it All Began included working through the seven stages of grief: The PRC got its start 34 years ago this month. shock/denial; pain and guilt; anger and bargaining; The not-for-profit began in Deborah Bolser’s depression/reflection/loneliness; the upward Carrollton living room. She was turn; reconstruction and listening to a Christian radio working through as well as program back in 1986 and acceptance and hope. believed what Carrollton needed They also held a memorial was a resource center for pregnant service for her aborted child, women. whom she named Kayla Deborah and her husband, Danielle. "I've always felt David, prayed about how to that my baby was a girl," start such a venture, according she shares. “If you haven’t A memorial brick outside the PRC. Debbie dedito Karmen Stamps, the center's gone through it, you don’t cated this brick to her mother, Doylene, and her executive director. understand." aborted child, whom she named Kayla Danielle.

37

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The resource center originally operated out of Deborah and David’s home, before they moved into a small storefront on Newnan Road.

The center’s mission is to offer compassionate medical care, evidence-based resources and education to women who are going through an unintended pregnancy. All of these services are free of charge, thanks to private donations, and there is no government funding.

“The community saw what Deborah wanted to do and put their money behind that mission,” says Karmen.

To date, the PRC has helped more than 26,000 West Georgia women, men and families.

Deborah and David have since moved to North Carolina, but they are still very much a part of the PRC family. They are faithful partners in prayer, encouragement of the staff and monetarily blessing the ministry, according to Karmen.

a center for family planning program development.

Last year, the center’s patients had 327 crisis pregnancies and 120 noncrisis pregnancies. A crisis pregnancy is an unwanted pregnancy, according to Karmen. “The patient did not want to be pregnant and does not know how to move forward with her life," she explains. "She is stuck.”

A non-crisis pregnancy is a wanted pregnancy. "These patients are usually very happy they are pregnant and can't wait to have the child," she says.

The faith-based center does not perform abortions but discusses it with the mothers-to-be, along with adoption and keeping the baby. The goal is to educate them on all their options.

“We want them to make the most informed decision they can,” explains Karmen.

Women need not be faith-based in order utilize the center’s services, however. “We don’t push faith on people,” shares Debbie.

In 2018, of the women the center was able to have follow-up contact with, five had abortions.

There were also 141 births and 18 other outcomes, according to the center.

"I've always felt that my baby was a girl."

The PRC's Services Services provided by the PRC include: pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, pregnancy options coaching, prenatal education, parenting earn-whileyou-learn classes, fatherhood mentorships, material goods assistance and post-abortion support. The clinic does not offer prenatal care throughout the pregnancy.

“We have registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on staff," Karmen says. "We have a volunteer medical director who is an M.D. who oversees all our medical services. This is the model the majority of the pregnancy medical help clinics in the U.S. follow."

Many women who go to the center do so because the pregnancy was unplanned. “Maybe not a crisis, but they’re surprised,” Karmen says.

An unwanted pregnancy is defined as, “one that occurred when a woman wanted to become pregnant in the future but not at the time she became pregnant (wanted later) or one that occurred when she did not want to become pregnant then or at any time in the future (unwanted),” according to the Guttmacher Institute,

PRC's Executive Director, Karmen Stamps.

39

Among the other outcomes, may have been adoption, as it is one of the options the center’s volunteers and staff discuss with the women.

“Based on our policies and legalities, we can only give out adoption information to those who give us permission to give them the information and sign a release," says Karmen. "That is not to say that we don't speak to more women about adoption. They have not chosen to get the printed information about making an adoption plan."

In 2018, 30 women were given information about adoption. Part of that includes dispelling its myths and destigmatizing the act of giving a child up for adoption. Karmen notes there is still a stigma attached to women who opt to give their child up for adoption, yet there is no disgrace associated with families who adopt.

Parenting Classes

(sizes newborn to 6), formula, baby food, gently used clothing (preemie to 24 months), baby wipes, blankets, bibs and other small accessories.

Because the items are free, Karmen asks no one take advantage. “We want to spread as many goods and as much love as we can,” she says.

Some of the women who come through the doors of the center are also in need of help in other areas such as housing and food. These are not part of the PRC’s core competencies, but they have partnered with other non-profit and community organizations in these areas.

“We’re not going to steer you in the wrong direction. We’re not the expert in food or housing, but we know somebody who is,” Karmen explains.

Helping Future Fathers While most people who utilize the pregnancy center’s services are women, there are also some men who need help.

The PRC currently has one male volunteer mentor, Bobby Bright, who sits down with fathers-to-be to listen to their concerns. Some of the questions asked often include, "Am I going to be a good father?" or, "What is a good father?"

"They are pleasantly surprised that 'somebody’s here for me; somebody wants to talk to me,'” says Karmen of men’s reaction to finding out there is assistance for them. “They’re just as scared and anxious. They want to talk, too."

The one-on-one mentorship program, which is led by specially trained volunteers and is oversaw by Debbie, walks an expectant mother through everything she can anticipate during the remainder of the pregnancy, each step of the child’s development, healthy meal prep, as well as financial accountability.

“It’s a holistic approach. What does a healthy family look like and how can we equip them?” explains Karmen.

Parents-to-be who attend the personalized classes earn as they learn. By attending the classes, which are open to the community, as well as going to all A Safe Haven of their prenatal appointments, "Baby Bucks" are earned, which can be used to purchase brand new The center outgrew its original Newnan Road infant clothes, car seats, strollers, swings, baby space and relocated to Tanner Street in 2001. blankets and quilts, decorative items and more at the center’s Baby Boutique.

The parenting classes had 161 participants in 2019 and there is typically a waiting list, according to Karmen.

Separate from the Baby Boutique is the material goods assistance, which is available to the community, free of charge. Parents can pick The PRC got its start 34 years ago this month. To date, the center has helped more than 26,000 up, for free: diapers West Georgia women, men and families. Pictured is the 514 Tanner St. location in Carrollton.

40

place for people who are scared and don’t know what to do,” she shares.

Assistance During COVID-19 COVID-19 and the current shelter-in-place order has forced the clinic to temporarily close its doors.

The PRC has two care “We will continue being rooms (top left), two exam closed as long as the shelterrooms (bottom left), a Baby Boutique (top right) where in-place order is active," parents can use their "Baby Karmen says. "We are, however, Bucks" to buy new items ministering over the phone to and (bottom right) goods that are available to anyone those who call us."

As of mid-April, the center in the community, free of charge, including diapers, began offering curbside pickup formula, baby wipes, gently of baby items for those in used clothing and more. need. This is done by calling the center and then making In 2008, the older home had 2,000 square feet arrangements for the items to be picked up outside added to it because they simply ran out of space the building. “As the curve flattens, our team will and couldn’t offer anymore services, according to gradually add back more of our services, but only if Karmen. The renovated home has two exam rooms, it is safe for our patients and our staff,” she explains. two care rooms, a parenting classroom and areas for the nurses.

How You Can Help The Carrollton office is located at 514 Tanner St. in Carrollton and is open Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to The resource center is always accepting donations 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 from the community. Items of need right now p.m. and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. are gently used baby clothes size preemie to 24 To meet the increasing demand, the PRC opened months. The center does not accept used strollers, a second location in Tallapoosa in June 2017. It is located at 734 Bowden Street (inside the Community car seats or cribs. For financial donations, go to www.pregnancyrc.com/donate or mail a check Christian Council building). Despite its limited hours (Wednesdays from 12 to 4 p.m.), they see roughly 30 payable to PRC to P.O. Box 683, Carrollton, Ga. 30112. WGW women a week.

There are 10 staff members as well as 12 to 15 regular volunteers who share duties between the Carrollton and Tallapoosa locations. There are 48 available appointments between both locations, according to Karmen.

“It feels like home, not a doctor’s office and we want them to feel at home and safe here,” Karmen shares. "Clients are also not going to be rushed out.

Somebody is going to sit down and listen to you.”

Debbie has dedicated the last 10 years to giving pregnant women a chance that she never had; an opportunity to learn about their options in a safe, loving and nonjudgemental environment. She also speaks freely about her decision to have an abortion, how it affected her and led her to the center. “It’s a

To learn more about the Pregnancy Resource Center call 770.832.0256, email info@pregnancyrc.com, or visit the website at www.pregnancyrc.com Facebook @PRCCarrollton Instagram @pregnancy.resource.center Twitter @PregnancyRC Snapchat @pregnancyrc

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to start with yourself and accepting that yes, there is a problem, no it’s not my fault and this can be treated.

Breaking the Stigma

By Sandra Bolan

W

hen a person tells a friend, co-worker or boss, “I suffer from a mental illness,” the reactions can range anywhere from acceptance and wanting to help, to that person being shunned.

Tell those same people you suffer from cancer or diabetes, and the amount of support offered can be overwhelming.

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not discriminate between mental health and physical disabilities, so why should we?

But society does.

However, it’s not just “normal” people who can discriminate or stigmatize a person who suffers from mental health issues. Those who have depression, anxiety, ADHD or PTSD, to name a few, also stigmatize themselves.

Some may tell themselves, “I can get over this,” “I did this to myself," "It’s my fault” or “It’s just a phase.”

The first step in dealing with a mental health problem is admitting you have one.

That is no easy task. The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

It’s a harsh reality, but if you want society’s attitudes to change toward mental illness, you have

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• Name the dragon.

Think of your battle with mental illness as more than its clinical name. Turn depression into Drizella, or anxiety into The Grand Witch.

By naming it you take away its power.

• Talk about it. May is Mental Health Awareness month.

Take the opportunity to be vocal about your mental health. You don’t have to get atop a soapbox and shout it out to the world that you suffer from mental illness – unless you really want to – but don’t be afraid to talk about it – to anybody.

Talking about mental health helps diffuse the societal stereotype of what a person suffering from a mental illness looks like. Most people who suffer Women’s Auto Clinic. with a mental illness look like Women’s Concierge Service. everybody else.

• Encourage equality between 770.832.9465 physical and mental health.

No one would 134 Bankhead Ave., Carrollton think twice www.lamberttirecompany.com about ridiculing

a person for visiting the doctor because they have diabetes. Why then should a person going to a therapist to treat anxiety be thought of any differently?

• Words hurt. People who suffer from a mental illness often use harsh verbiage to describe themselves. They call themselves crazy, insane, nuts, kookoo or out to lunch. This verbiage does nothing to help reduce the stigma society puts upon a mental health sufferer. You are not your disease. Everyone is a person, not a label, therefore, a better descriptor is, “I am bipolar,” “I suffer from depression” or, "I live with anxiety."

• Educate yourself and others. Knowledge is power and people tend to be afraid of what they don’t understand. That includes people who do and don’t suffer from a mental illness.

For those who do have a mental illness, that means seeking out treatment. Find out from experts who specialize in treating mental

• • • • •

“Carrollton’s Prescription Headquarters”

821 Dixie Street Carrollton, GA 30117

770.832.7076 Drive Thru Service • Gifts • Free Delivery

health issues – don’t guess or use WebMD – to diagnosis and treat. For people living with a person who suffers from a mental ailment, do your research, visit a treatment center and ask the professionals questions. Seek out your own therapist to find out how best to support your family member. WGW

1 in 5 American Adults Experience Mental Illness 17 percent of youth age 6 to 17 years experience a mental health disorder Caregivers spend, on average, 32 hours a week providing unpaid care to a family member with a mental illness 37 percent of state and federal inmates have been diagnosed with a mental condition 70 percent of those in the juvenile justice system have at least one mental health condition 90 percent of people who die by suicide have experienced mental illness symptoms

Warning Signs Depression is the leading disability worldwide and can cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

The following are symptoms and signs to look out for: • Feeling very sad/withdrawn for more than two weeks • Trying to harm or end one’s life • Out-of-control/risk-taking behavior that causes harm to oneself or others • Sudden, overwhelming fear for no reason • Significant weight loss/gain • Seeing/hearing/believing things that aren’t real • Excessive use of alcohol or drugs • Drastic change in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits • Extreme difficulty in sitting still or concentrating • Intense worries/fears that get in the way of daily life For more information, go to: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – https://adata.org/factsheet/health Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – www.dbhdd.georgia.gov National Mental Health Association (NMHA) – www.nmha.org National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – www.nami.org; Georgia – www.namiga.org

Crisis Text Line: 741741

The local NAMI Carroll Support Group meets every Wednesday from 1 to 2:30 pm and Mondays from 5:30 to 7 pm.

NAMI Carroll Family Support Group meets the 1st and 3rd Monday from 5:30 to 7 pm. Meetings are held at 306 Bradley Street.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

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Kids Korner

By Jordan Coffman Photos by Zachary Dailey

Lady Bug and Honey Bee Tic Tac Toe Game

W

elcome nature into your backyard with this fun, outdoor tic tac toe game. With just a few rocks, sticks and some paint, your kids will be playing this classic game in no time.

These adorable lily pad frogs are so much fun to make. Kids will enjoy creating these frogs and bringing them to life on their homemade lily pads!

Materials 10 small rocks 4 sticks Red, black and yellow paint Paintbrush Googly eyes, glue gun and glue sticks (optional)

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Instructions Find 10 small rocks outdoors or purchase them.

Find 4 sticks of equal length and close to the same diameter outdoors (you can also use strips of material, rope or yarn.)

Make the tic tac toe board with the sticks on any flat surface. No need to bind them unless desired.

Paint five rocks to resemble lady bugs.

Paint five rocks to resemble honey bees.

Allow to dry.

(Optional) Glue a pair of googly eyes on top of each rock.

Find a flat surface to play.

Lily Pad Frog Materials 1 Empty paper towel roll or two empty toilet tissue rolls Dark green, light green and red construction paper Googly eyes Black marker Glue gun Glue sticks Scissors Instructions Cut one empty roll 5 to 6 inches in length. Cut a 2-inch tube out of the other empty roll.

Take the light green construction paper and cut to wrap each tube all the way around.

Then glue the light green paper to the cardboard rolls.

Glue the small roll horizontally on top of the larger roll.

Cut two arms, two feet and the letter "B" out of the light green construction paper.

Glue the spine of the letter "B" to the small tube for the eyes. Glue the googly eyes to the letter "B." Glue the arms to the front of the longer tube.

Cut an 8-inch in diameter circle out of the dark green construction paper.

Cut a thin triangle out of the side of the circle.

Glue the feet toward the back of the lily pad.

Glue the longer tube to the lily pad on top of the feet.

Draw two nostrils and a smile on the smaller tube for the face. Cut out a long rectangle from the red construction paper and curl it for the tongue.

Glue the tongue to the smiley face. WGW

Wishing a Very Happy Mother’s Day to All Moms in West Georgia – Biological, Foster and Adoptive, or Just Filling the Role of a Mother.

Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most • 770.832.9689 45

Happy Mother's Day Word Search Word Bank

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Daughter Affection Motherhood Dedication Adoption Warmth Son Remember May Parent Kisses Woman Kindness Unconditional Children Honor Grandmother Family Birth Cherish

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Creating Beautiful Smiles For Over 17 years!

M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC

Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics 105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770.459.5778 www.drharveysmiles.com

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PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S.POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

We’re still here for you with

Tanner’s Care Your Way.

We have reached the point of no return.

Today’s the day that we can slow this.

The number of new COVID-19 cases will soon overwhelm our hospitals.

Your care, your way.

To save the lives of those you loveFor—a telehealth visit with a you must stayemergencies. home! Tomorrow will Tanner Medical Group provider, receiving care for health problems and minor call your Tanner provider’s office. be too late — for too many.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made everything harder — including

We’re leveraging technology and our existing services to make medical care easier, including: • Telehealth visits with a Tanner medical provider for general

For a telehealth visit with a Willowbrooke at Tanner clinician, call 770-812-3266.

medical care and to assess the need for COVID-19 testing • Emergency department appointments available in Carrollton and

Villa Rica, so you can quickly and safely be evaluated and treated for non-life-threatening conditions on your schedule • Telehealth visits with Willowbrooke at Tanner to help with anxiety,

depression, stress and other common mental health concerns • Walk-in care at Tanner Urgent Care for minor emergencies

The importance of exceptional care has never been clearer — and that care’s never been easier.

Learnmore moreat attanner.org/ncov. www.tanner.org/careyourway.

Learn 48 48

For an emergency department appointment, call 770-812-9561 in Carrollton and 770-456-3186 in Villa Rica.

See wait times and locations for Tanner Urgent Care at TannerUrgentCare.org.